I finally got around to finishing Tales of Xillia and then played Tales of Xillia 2. I want to know why Ludger was a good choice for a first name... especially with the way they were pronouncing it being so close to lougie... Oh well... thoroughly enjoyed both games, though I got a lot of couch potato jokes during the week and a half of straight play that it took.
Yeah, next chapter is being worked on. I'm having a hard time figuring out the trust build between the two and I feel like I'm moving the relationship too fast. And classes start again soon, so it's going to be awhile.
Here goes...
Cobra glanced back at the clock, amused, even as he stood a small ways off from the group that was talking excitedly about the upcoming cherry blossom festival. Wendy and Lucy sat inside Horologium, looking warm with the blankets around their shoulders. He kept silent, focusing on the musical notes of Lucy and the sky child. Even Natsu's soul was singing happily, trusting him to do his part and accepting him wholeheartedly.
Erza, Gray and Happy, however, were not pleased to have him there if the sour notes of their soul were any indication, even though they had been prepared months ago for his forced integration into the team.
Cobra snorted, glad that they were only members every once in a while. Natsu's stupidity he could deal with. The distrust about who he was to Lucy he could not. Cobra glanced back at the clock again, lips twitching slightly upward when Lucy grinned at him wholeheartedly.
He stopped, frowning when they got closer to the plant, and both Natsu and Lucy noticed.
"What's up?" Natsu asked, "We're almost done."
"Wyvern," Cobra grunted out, pointing upwards, "It's coming down to feed."
Natsu grinned, "We'll just have to give it warm welcome then!"
Lucy sighed, Horologium having left as the others dashed forward to intercept.
"So much for a plan," she grumbled, glancing at Wendy, "Come on, we'll see if we can sneak by while they're distracting it and get some of the plants."
Wendy nodded in agreement, and Cobra fell into step behind them, listening for any change in the battle. He was quick to grab the two and leap out of the way of a stray blast of ice.
Would've enjoyed the carnage and chaos if I had stayed back, he reflected as he set Lucy and Wendy down. Lucy grinned shyly up at him, "Thanks."
Cobra nodded and they continued forward at a faster pace. They quickly began to place plants in baskets, and Cobra stopped, snarling before grabbing Lucy and Wendy and running from the patch of green, pulling them away just in time for the wyvern to land in it, destroying the rest of the usable plants.
"Good going fire crotch," Cobra grumbled as Natsu beamed at him. Lucy and Wendy both looked at their baskets, glad they had managed to save enough of the plants to give to the vendor.
"I think we might be able to take some of these back with us for the festival," Erza commented, looking inside the baskets a bit greedily, pleased with their efforts.
"Good job, Lucy, Wendy."
Natsu, Wendy and Lucy frowned at Erza, and Cobra shook his head at them.
Lucy opened her mouth to say something, and Cobra shook his head at her.
"Forcing her to acknowledge me isn't going to score me any points," Cobra grumbled softly.
"Well I think you were really helpful," Wendy said softly, smiling up at him, "Thanks for saving us."
Cobra shifted uncomfortably, a warm feeling in his chest, slightly different from the one he got from Lucy, but still there. "Thanks kid."
Wendy beamed up at him, and Lucy smiled, just before she sneezed.
"Can we get off this mountain?" she whined, pulling her coat closer to her.
Cobra rolled his eyes, pulling her closer to him and wrapping his coat around the two of them.
Lucy sneezed again, "This might make it hard to walk."
"Well you aren't getting the coat," he grumbled, and she looked up, giving him a pleading look, though he could hear that she wasn't really interested in his coat and him getting sick.
He snorted, "Not happening."
She pouted, stepping back and hefting the basket she dropped. Gray sneered at Cobra, picking up his own jacket from where it lay on the ground and handing it over to Lucy who looked at it blankly for a second before grinning, "Thanks Gray."
Gray nodded, helping her get it on, much to Cobra's ire. Gray smirked at him.
That's how it's done asshole.
Cobra debated punching the ice mage but refrained when he noticed Wendy shivering. The smaller girl would be much easier to carry down the mountain. She squeaked when Cobra picked her up, somehow managing to wrap his long coat around them and button it up until it was just below Wendy's head.
Lucy giggled as she picked up Wendy's basket.
Oh no! It's the two headed dragon slayer!
Cobra glanced at Lucy, amused at the inside joke as everyone else looked at them a little lost.
Lucy's soul hummed happily at their confusion, enjoying herself. "Let's go," she said, sneezing once again. Wendy glanced at her in concern, making a mental reminder to heal her when they got off the mountain.
"Thanks little bit," Cobra murmured to her, and Wendy beamed up at him.
"Thank you, nii-chan."
The warm feeling entered his chest again, and part of him was wondering what it took to be a big brother. He glanced at Lucy, whose soul was humming happily as they descended the mountain. Natsu was distracting Erza and Gray from him, which he appreciated. So long as they didn't think about him too much, the sour notes regarding their thoughts on him didn't cloud his hearing.
It allowed him to focus on listening for any other attackers.
Wendy healed Lucy while Natsu and Erza delivered the plants to the client. Gray glared at him from across the hotel room, thinking dark thoughts. Gray was very unhappy, Cobra's rap sheet running through his head. He glared back at Gray, imagining a few gruesome ways to dispose of the ice make mage.
Pity Lucy would get upset.
She'd probably dump him.
He hadn't asked her out yet.
Cobra glanced at Lucy and his glare softened, much to Gray's ire. Cobra ignored him in favor of wondering how the hell he was supposed to actually ask her out. He wanted to do that as much as he wanted to kiss her again. He wondered how much she knew about his rap sheet. And he wondered what she would do when she found out he regretted very little of it. Well, maybe the little family in that one town. The terrified look on the little girl's face had reminded him of Sorano at one point, and he hesitated. Brain took care of her.
He wondered why they had to take care of the children when it was only the father Brain wanted to get rid of.
He shook himself, missing the familiar weight of Cubellios on his shoulders. Lucy glanced at him curiously, wondering what had caused him to turn inward on himself. Cobra relaxed against the wall, the small upturn of his lips reassuring her that he was fine.
I'll have to tell her, he thought to himself, knowing he couldn't make a new start with her without disclosing it.
He just wasn't sure where to begin. He couldn't claim to love her. He didn't trust her with that yet. He didn't trust himself with the feelings she evoked in him. Part of him wanted to run, but the bigger part wanted to stay. She was his. His to protect, his to hold. He was not going to relinquish that.
"Hey, lover boy, let's get some food," Gray snapped.
Lucy threw a pillow at the ice-make mage, grumbling in her head how she hadn't even been asked out yet.
Cobra made a mental note to do that as soon as he felt ready, and then wondered when he'd ever get her alone to do so.
Wendy tucked Lucy in before grabbing Cobra's hand, "Good idea. We could all use a warm meal after that journey."
Lucy yawned, "Wake me up for dinner."
Wendy nodded, dragging the two males out the door of their room.
Cobra exchanged a look with Natsu as they stood at Lucy's door. She groaned when Natsu suggested he bring Wendy back to heal her again.
"She already has Natsu," Lucy groaned, voice slightly muffled as she brought her arm up to catch a sneeze, despite knowing that neither Natsu nor Cobra were likely to get sick.
"Sorry Erik," she coughed, turning back into her apartment, "I'm just going to sleep. Have fun at the party. Kina's already there."
Cobra tried hard not to snicker, despite worrying about her. Natsu shut the door softly, frowning. "She was really looking forward to this."
A different note rang out from Natsu's soul, a note that made Cobra a bit jealous.
He doubted Natsu really knew what the feeling was other than friendship, and he hoped Natsu never figured it out. Natsu was a much better match for Lucy. His soul was just as musical.
"How upset would they be if I stayed with her?"
Natsu glanced at him brightening at the prospect before wincing at the thought of Gray and Erza.
Cobra groaned as well, "Forget I asked."
Happy sighed, "Yeah, Gray and Erza would come and disturb Lucy's rest trying to save her when she doesn't need it."
Cobra decided he wouldn't poison the little blue cat today. He'd save that dream for tomorrow.
That lead him to showing up at the picnic with Natsu, both trying to figure out how to get Lucy to see what she had been so excited to see and get her well.
Cobra glanced at Natsu, "I can't do that I'd get thrown back into prison."
Natsu gave him a sheepish look. But didn't discard the idea of digging up one of the trees and bringing it to Lucy.
Cobra took a deep breath, trying to tune out the cacophony of noise from all the souls in the area. "The logistics of that would be a nightmare," he finally tacked on as he viewed the grove, "These trees are huge."
Natsu glanced at them before regarding Cobra.
Cobra ignored the bingo card, leaving it on the ground as he considered the options. Lucy had been really excited, and he wanted her to see the rainbow sakura trees.
"If she's feeling better tonight I can bring her here during the show," Cobra muttered.
"We should leave a little early then," Natsu muttered.
Cobra glanced around, noting that only Wendy and Mira had noticed the neither he nor Natsu were participating or eating.
Cobra shut his eyes, listening, mapping out the area with sound. He found the perfect place to bring her to let her see it after the sun had set. Or during the sunset if he could swing it.
Lucy awoke just before sunset to a knock at her door. Yawning, she noted that she felt much better than she had earlier, though still a little bleary. She opened the door rubbing her eyes, smiling up at Natsu and Cobra. Natsu nudged Cobra forward.
"Hi," she yawned, "Erik, Natsu."
"Get dressed," Cobra gruffly said after regarding her a moment.
Lucy gave him a confused look, and began to frown, slightly hurt that he just expected her to hop to, and Natsu nudged him again, hard.
Cobra licked his lips, instinct warring with what he knew he should do and taking a deep breath.
"If you're f-feeling better," he finally got out, a little upset that Natsu was watching even though they had managed to leave Happy behind, "Would you like to see the trees with me?"
He clammed up, glad he had gotten that out. Natsu was just happy his coaching, as odd as that was, had helped out. Lucy's soul hummed happily and she beamed up at him.
"Let me get dressed."
"Dress warm," he growled out as she shut the door.
He listened as she rushed through her closet, finding her warmest clothing. Five minutes later she was back out the door, sniffling a little, but ready to go. Cobra glanced at Natsu who gave him a thumbs up from behind Lucy's back.
Clueless as Natsu was, Cobra decided, he was a good guy to have on his side. He held an arm out for Lucy, which she accepted happily, and Cobra escorted her out of the building. Cobra was quick to find the place he had scouted out before. There were less sounds, less people as most of the town had gravitated to where Fairy Tail was hanging out. Lucy took a deep breath, glad that she could despite her slightly runny nose. Cobra glanced at the sky, sitting down beneath one of the trees. It was nearly dark, the sun having just finished setting over the horizon. Lucy sat down next to him, pleased when he took the initiative and pulled her closer.
Cobra, for his part, was tense, even as he enjoyed the sounds the blonde made as she watched the sakura petals of the trees begin to glow and change color. She smiled up at her soul mate, cheeks flushed.
Cobra cleared his throat, figuring it was now or never. "Would you-"
He pulled her closer, careful not to grip her too tight, and tried again. "Would you be my girlfriend?"
Her eyes lit up and he heard her answer before she even voiced it. Cobra tried hard to relax as she hugged him tightly. She softened her grip as she felt him tense up, backing off a little but not letting go, a question on her mind.
Cobra grunted, looking down to the side, "A little at a time."
Lucy nodded, settling down next to him once again and leaning her head against his shoulder lightly. When he didn't shy away, and relaxed slightly, she settled a bit more heavily against him, sighing in content.
It wasn't long before she fell asleep.
Cobra looked down at her, corner of his lips twitching. A moment later his head shot up and Natsu came barreling through the clearing, "We gotta get her back to the apartment. Kinana went back with some soup for Lucy and found her gone and I didn't get a chance to intercept her before she saw Erza."
Cobra scowled, scooping Lucy up into his arms as Natsu led him a roundabout way to Lucy's apartment in an effort to avoid the requip and ice make mages.
Cobra was pretty sure Erza had told Gray in order to cover more ground. They soon landed on the roof, Cobra keeping an ear out, and finding only Kinana waiting in the apartment. Natsu knocked on the window, grinning and waving at the fourteen-year-old girl, who looked delighted to see him.
"Did you find-?"
"She was with Cobra the whole time," Natsu said crawling through the open window and positioning himself so he could accept the sleeping girl from Cobra.
Cobra was loathe to hand her down, but knew that getting caught on her roof with her in his arms would be suicide since he couldn't actually kill Lucy's two disapproving friends.
Cobra handed her down and then crawled through himself, winking at Kinana. She was probably the only one he had warmed up to right away her presence being amazingly familiar.
Kinana gave him a sheepish grin, "Sorry Erik. I didn't realize they didn't like you."
Cobra shrugged, "No harm no foul. Sides they're not going to dislike me any less for a long time."
Natsu gave him a grin, figuring out he had popped the question and Cobra scowled at him. "Not that question."
Natsu shrugged, already considering it a given thing.
Cobra just grunted, ignoring the way his cheeks heated as he glanced at his girlfriend, who Natsu had gotten her back under the covers.
Cobra looked around for her boots, and felt a wave of relief when spotting them at the foot of the bed. She would have murdered someone should she find out they had put her to bed with her shoes on, and he didn't want Kinana to pay the price.
Natsu glanced at where he was looking and shuddered, "We learned the hard way."
Cobra gave a sympathetic wince. He hadn't had much experience with his soul mate's temper, but the few times she had come to visit angry, he found himself genuinely afraid. He wondered if that was because he didn't want to kill her.
Cobra glanced at the door and the window, eyes wide before slipping into the bathroom. Kinana watched curiously before jumping when the door was slammed open to reveal Erza and Gray came tumbling through the window with practiced ease, somehow not disturbing Lucy.
Natsu scowled at Gray, "Keep it down, she's sleeping."
Gray opened his mouth to retort, and shut his mouth with a snap at the look Kinana was giving him.
Natsu glanced at the small teen, gulping, and glad she wasn't angry at him.
"You two have no right to barge in here like that," the younger girl hissed, genuinely angry, "Look I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to contact you but Lucy was just deeper under the covers sleeping alright?! And don't you dare go back through the window! Use the door like a real person!"
Gray nodded rapidly before grabbing Erza and running out the door. The dark aura surrounding Kinana disappeared, and she smiled at Natsu. Lucy giggled drowsily from the bed, "Making you my roommate was the best decision I ever made."
Kinana beamed at Lucy before moving to the retro oven where the soup was being kept warm, "I brought you soup."
Happy flew through the still open window, looking apologetic, "Sorry, I didn't get to warn you in time."
Lucy sat up, smiling at the blue cat and putting sock feet on the ground and rubbing her eyes sleepily, "Where'd Erik go?"
"Hiding in the bathroom," Kinana said.
Natsu went and peaked in the bathroom, and found Cobra curiously examining several of Lucy's bath soaps. He was about to say something when Cobra opened one and shot some into his mouth.
"The hell?"
Cobra rolled his eyes, "I'm a poison dragon slayer."
Natsu nodded, still confused, and Cobra sighed, holding up the bottle, "It's poison. I was curious how it tasted."
Natsu cocked his head, "And?"
Cobra wrinkled his nose, "It's terrible."
Natsu snorted before walking out, "Lucy I don't think you have to worry about Cobra eating your bath stuff."
Lucy glanced at him curiously, before fixing Cobra with that look as he exited the bathroom, trying to decide if she should get angry or not.
"Stuff tastes worse than it smells," Cobra groaned before scowling, "I didn't take that much. I'm not exactly getting a lot of poison intake."
Lucy blinked, deciding against getting angry, it would just give her a headache. "Do you want some bleach?"
Cobra shrugged, "Sure."
Kinana grabbed a cup from the cabinet and the bleach from under the sink. Cobra winced because it wasn't cold, but then decided it wasn't worth complaining over.
He glanced over at Lucy, who had finished her soup and was yawning. He downed the cup and nudged Natsu, "Let's go."
Lucy smiled at them sleepily, "Thanks guys."
Natsu grinned at her and nodded, moving to go through the window when Kinana cleared her throat. He paused and then made for the door as if that had been his intention the whole time, Happy giggling at him behind blue paws. Cobra glanced at Lucy, considering and she smiled and waved him off, "Thanks for getting me out to see the cherry blossoms."
He nodded, exiting the through the door, still feeling as if he should have done something. He listened one more time to see if there was anything Lucy might have wanted from him, but her soul was humming happily, and he could hear her breathing even out, indicating she was asleep. He'd dwell on it more later.
The next day Cobra walked into the guild to see Wendy staring at the mission board. He glanced over to where Kinana was shadowing Mira, learning the bar trade, and decided to bother Wendy. "Find a job Little Bit?"
Wendy started before turning around and grinning up at him, "Hi Cobra-nii."
Cobra shifted uncomfortably, "You sure you want to go by yourself?"
Wendy nodded, turning to look at the board once more. Mira walked over, "Looking for another job already?"
Wendy nodded cheerfully.
"You've only been taking small jobs around town," Charle huffed, annoyance obvious in her tone.
Cobra rolled his eyes, sitting back on a stool.
Natsu and Gray walked over, Gray eyeing Cobra, but otherwise ignoring him.
"Don't you think it's time to take a big job Wendy?"
Gray looked at the girl, thoughtful, "Yeah, like in a far off town?"
Wendy just grinned, though Cobra could sense the slight fear in the back of her mind, "I want to hurry up and get stronger so I can be useful to everyone!"
Cobra studied the girl, wondering why she thought she wasn't useful already. "You're already more useful than most Little Bit," he grumbled softly, knowing she'd hear, "You're a healer."
She blushed grinning at him thankfully, "I'll do my best!"
A thought crossed Mira's mind, and Cobra rolled his eyes before focusing on Kinana who had come to sit with him. Lucy walked back over, huffing, still annoyed with the little blue cat.
She sat down, pouting, "You think I'm nice and admirable right?"
Cobra looked at her, a slow grin spreading over his face and she was immediately on guard. It was not a NICE grin. Kinana, however, interrupted whatever he was going to say.
"You were nice enough to give me space in your apartment," the girl said, "And you have admirable patience when dealing with your team."
Lucy blushed, and looked down, suddenly remembering all the times she hadn't been patient, and suddenly didn't feel quite as admirable. "Thanks Kinana."
Kinana smiled, thinking she had actually made Lucy's day. Lucy, however, grew quiet, turning to listen to Mira to keep herself distracted from her thoughts. Lucy blinked when she recognized the name and the play ran through her mind.
Cobra grinned, relishing the memory of the complete and utter chaos, terrible acting aside.
Natsu freaked out as he remembered.
"Wendy," Gray cautioned, "Just forget it."
Lucy twitched as Wendy decided to take the job, despite Charle's reservations.
"Why are you two fighting? There's no need to be so on edge Charle."
The white cat huffed, ignoring Lucy, and Cobra held back a growl, eyes narrowing in on the white cat, who was worrying about Wendy.
"Are you really thinking about going alone?" Mira asked.
Kinana watched, eyes wide, and Cobra glanced at her, before nodding in Wendy's direction.
"I'll come!"
They glanced at Kinana, and Mira frowned, "But we haven't had a chance to…"
"It'll be fine," Kinana said cheerfully, "It doesn't sound like he really needs a mage, just cheering up."
She looked at the blue haired slayer, "Mind if I join you?"
Wendy's face lit up, "Everything's an experience right?!"
Lucy glanced at her boyfriend, smiling, silently accusing him of setting this up. He just nodded, a bit proud of himself. Kinana was his closest friend, his sister, even if she didn't remember it. He wanted her to be happy.
"Wendy you've just gotten used to guild life and Kinana you're still new. I'm going to assign someone to go with you," Makarov suddenly interrupted. Cobra raised an eyebrow but didn't protest. He could already tell that Natsu and Lucy were planning on tagging along, meaning he might also.
"Now who's been there before," Makarov asked, looking around the room, "Ah Happy!"
The blue cat looked shocked and Makarov nodded, "Let's see and who else. Ah, Freed! You've got nothing better to do right?"
Cobra eyed the green haired mage, knowing little about him aside from that he was calm, slightly depressed, and a little annoyed at the prospect of going. Cobra decided he might not be against hanging out with the green haired bookworm as long as he was quiet. The thought of making friends with any of the other fairies was somewhat nauseating, however, if he could find a decent one that would lend him a couch. Maybe it would be worth it to get out of Natsu's place.
He wondered if Lucy knew how filthy Natsu's place was.
She'd probably freak out and clean it. And then get nostalgic about all the crap Natsu kept.
Cobra groaned, knowing it wasn't a bad thing that Natsu hoarded memories, but he wished he could get his own place that was clean.
"Why Freed?" Natsu, Lucy and Gray synced.
Cobra glanced at them, and then at Makarov, who was thinking about the meeting with Cobra's parole officer. Cobra winced, having forgotten about that.
So much for going to see Wendy. Or any kind of carnage of a play.
Lucy bit her lip as they sent Wendy and Freed off. Cobra nudged her slightly, "My fucking parole officer'll be here in an hour."
Lucy winced, having forgotten all about it, "And your required psychiatrist appointment."
Cobra blinked, having forgotten about that too. It was going to be a long day.
"You should go after Wendy after talking to the parole officer," he said, "Kitty's going to go by herself if not."
Lucy blinked and looked down at Charle, who was still glaring after Wendy, Freed, and Happy before looking up at him worriedly.
Cobra snorted, "I promise to not kill the psychiatrist."
Her gaze narrowed, no longer looking worried.
"Or scare him or her too badly."
Her shoulders relaxed, which let him know how seriously she was taking his promise. He almost shook his head at how stupid that was.
The amount of trust she put in him scared him. Her leaving for some hours might help him get his thoughts together.
Cobra shuddered at the bright smile she suddenly gave him, and he wondered where her optimism and belief came from. Her leaving for a few hours to a day would be a good thing.
As long as that idiot of a playwright didn't keep her for longer to be an actress. Then he'd have to hunt them down, and the Magic Council would not like the consequence.
Thanks for everyone who liked/followed and reviewed. I really appreciate constructive criticism to help my writing style.
See you next time.
Beta'd by Infinitely Panda.